2015-11-17 - 017 - Fallout 4
I was sharing stories of my travels with the Overseer in her office while sitting on a comfortable couch. Well, it was more comfortable than sitting on rocks, broken concrete, or a Yaoguai's muzzle. My wounds have fully healed but I shifted my weight anyway... that damned zombie bear.
“It's just us here so call me Gwen.” the Overseer reminded again while sipping some wine. “Goodness relax. I'm not administrating a G.O.A.T. exam, not officially anyway. So getting back to your story, you wiped out raiders in three or more locations but then you offered compassion to a well-known raider leader. Was that done to tell her how horribly her sister died?”
“It could be seen as passive aggressive,” I agreed, crossing my legs only to hit the coffee table that has noticeably moved closer to the couch than usual. “but it wasn't. I understand what it's like to lose family so that part is genuine. I also wanted to show that the Minutemen are not like most raiders.”
“Wouldn't compassion dictate to save her life?” Gwen raised an eyebrow.
“Maximum effort would be to send Preston running to get blood packs and a doctor, not easy in the condition we were in with limited information of the area. Our options were down to best effort which meant pain management.”
“I'm surprised you didn't leave anyone alive from your battles as a warning to other raiders.”
“No one surrendered funny enough. Red was the first raider that actually survived engaging me and Preston.” This caused Gwen to make an incredulous noise.
“Not impressed, Nate.”
“Besides, men and groups can be dealt with by sending in more men and bigger groups. An entire region full of dead raiders with no one taking immediate responsibility and no explanation? What would the factions in the Commonwealth send against ghosts and demons? Sanctuary Hills is safe for now.”
“A luxury I wish we were capable of exploiting.” Gwen murmured. “Now,” she placed her feet on the coffee table. Huh, so that's why the table... “What did you think of your new quarters?”
“It's shabbier than I thought,” I said casually, surprising her as I mockingly looked around. “But the Overseer's office will do for now. Where will you work?”
“You idiot.” she backhanded my chest.
“No the large room downstairs is really great. I mean it. There are small storage spaces here that I would be happy to be in.”
“Having you come out of closets can still be arranged if that's what you really want.” she laughed. “'The Sole Survivor' I keep hearing people call you. Oh, I don't mean-”
“It's just a name that behemoths say to scare supermutants at bedtime.” I offered. “I sorta like it.”
“Well you saved a cat, a child, an addict, and the entire vault. I better reward you while I still have the means before you save the Commonwealth!”
“Overseers always play the long game.” I smiled.
“Seeing you earlier staring at the room for a long time had me worried.”
“I was thinking about things before the bombs fell.” I said catching her making the briefest glance towards my wedding ring. “I'm not sure if it's going to be revenge or justice if I find Nora's killer. But I've come to terms with what happened to her I think. This ring now is a reminder that I should look for Shaun and help others like him if I can. She would have wanted me to live in the present instead of the past.”
“It sounds like you're talking about the future.” Gwen placed her wine glass down on the coffee table. “Nate, you said it yourself that Sanctuary Hills is safe. We can really use you here to train our security, teach, be our eyes and ears to the outside... it's what you've been doing but you can do it from here full time.” She stopped when I shook my head.
“Thank you, and thank you for running this vault. This incredible oasis gave me and Preston hope. It also made us want to double our efforts in making sure there's a place outside for everyone here.”
“And here I was joking about saving the Commonwealth.” Gwen stretched and leaned back on the couch in resignation to my answer and the wine. “There's no time limit on the offer.”
“I appreciate that. Someday maybe,” I smiled. “But not yet.” Gwen gave a sigh and I suddenly remembered something. “By the way what's up with the stuffed monkey? I found it in one of the lockers.”
“You found Jangles!” Gwen bolted up. “I was inspecting the room and forgot about him after getting a seam restitched. I used to pretend I was Captain Cosmos with him when I was a kid.” she said striking a pose with hands on hips and face turned upwards and to the side. “Is he still there?”
“He's safe and sound on the table near the window.” I said as Gwen turned to look at me and slowly frowned.
“Maria knows that's mine. If she sees it...” Maria Summerset runs the cafeteria like a well-respected matron, creating food and rumors that delight the senses. Gwen's red face revealed her thoughts were racing along the same lines.
“So?” I shrugged as Gwen gave what I assumed was the beginnings of the dreaded Commonwealth Kill Face. “Y-yes Overseer, I'll get him back at once!” I thrust my arms straight out with my hands groping the air speaking in a nasally robot voice like a protectron. “Make... a hole vault dwellers, I'm on emergency monkey business with the Overseer! Make... a hole!”
“You'll do no such!” she curled a fist and pretended to hit me. “Bring Jangles up discretely the next time you're here you damn dirty wastelander!”
“I prefer what you called me before, a damn dirty 'Swole Survivor'.” I imitated her Captain Cosmos and flexed.
“I swear, I'm going to feed you to the incinerators one of these days Nate.”
2015-11-17 - 017 - Fallout 4
I was sharing stories of my travels with the Overseer in her office while sitting on a comfortable couch. Well, it was more comfortable than sitting on rocks, broken concrete, or a Yaoguai's muzzle. My wounds have fully healed but I shifted my weight anyway... that damned zombie bear.
“It's just us here so call me Gwen.” the Overseer reminded again while sipping some wine. “Goodness relax. I'm not administrating a G.O.A.T. exam, not officially anyway. So getting back to your story, you wiped out raiders in three or more locations but then you offered compassion to a well-known raider leader. Was that done to tell her how horribly her sister died?”
“It could be seen as passive aggressive,” I agreed, crossing my legs only to hit the coffee table that has noticeably moved closer to the couch than usual. “but it wasn't. I understand what it's like to lose family so that part is genuine. I also wanted to show that the Minutemen are not like most raiders.”
“Wouldn't compassion dictate to save her life?” Gwen raised an eyebrow.
“Maximum effort would be to send Preston running to get blood packs and a doctor, not easy in the condition we were in with limited information of the area. Our options were down to best effort which meant pain management.”
“I'm surprised you didn't leave anyone alive from your battles as a warning to other raiders.”
“No one surrendered funny enough. Red was the first raider that actually survived engaging me and Preston.” This caused Gwen to make an incredulous noise.
“Not impressed, Nate.”
“Besides, men and groups can be dealt with by sending in more men and bigger groups. An entire region full of dead raiders with no one taking immediate responsibility and no explanation? What would the factions in the Commonwealth send against ghosts and demons? Sanctuary Hills is safe for now.”
“A luxury I wish we were capable of exploiting.” Gwen murmured. “Now,” she placed her feet on the coffee table. Huh, so that's why the table... “What did you think of your new quarters?”
“It's shabbier than I thought,” I said casually, surprising her as I mockingly looked around. “But the Overseer's office will do for now. Where will you work?”
“You idiot.” she backhanded my chest.
“No the large room downstairs is really great. I mean it. There are small storage spaces here that I would be happy to be in.”
“Having you come out of closets can still be arranged if that's what you really want.” she laughed. “'The Sole Survivor' I keep hearing people call you. Oh, I don't mean-”
“It's just a name that behemoths say to scare supermutants at bedtime.” I offered. “I sorta like it.”
“Well you saved a cat, a child, an addict, and the entire vault. I better reward you while I still have the means before you save the Commonwealth!”
“Overseers always play the long game.” I smiled.
“Seeing you earlier staring at the room for a long time had me worried.”
“I was thinking about things before the bombs fell.” I said catching her making the briefest glance towards my wedding ring. “I'm not sure if it's going to be revenge or justice if I find Nora's killer. But I've come to terms with what happened to her I think. This ring now is a reminder that I should look for Shaun and help others like him if I can. She would have wanted me to live in the present instead of the past.”
“It sounds like you're talking about the future.” Gwen placed her wine glass down on the coffee table. “Nate, you said it yourself that Sanctuary Hills is safe. We can really use you here to train our security, teach, be our eyes and ears to the outside... it's what you've been doing but you can do it from here full time.” She stopped when I shook my head.
“Thank you, and thank you for running this vault. This incredible oasis gave me and Preston hope. It also made us want to double our efforts in making sure there's a place outside for everyone here.”
“And here I was joking about saving the Commonwealth.” Gwen stretched and leaned back on the couch in resignation to my answer and the wine. “There's no time limit on the offer.”
“I appreciate that. Someday maybe,” I smiled. “But not yet.” Gwen gave a sigh and I suddenly remembered something. “By the way what's up with the stuffed monkey? I found it in one of the lockers.”
“You found Jangles!” Gwen bolted up. “I was inspecting the room and forgot about him after getting a seam restitched. I used to pretend I was Captain Cosmos with him when I was a kid.” she said striking a pose with hands on hips and face turned upwards and to the side. “Is he still there?”
“He's safe and sound on the table near the window.” I said as Gwen turned to look at me and slowly frowned.
“Maria knows that's mine. If she sees it...” Maria Summerset runs the cafeteria like a well-respected matron, creating food and rumors that delight the senses. Gwen's red face revealed her thoughts were racing along the same lines.
“So?” I shrugged as Gwen gave what I assumed was the beginnings of the dreaded Commonwealth Kill Face. “Y-yes Overseer, I'll get him back at once!” I thrust my arms straight out with my hands groping the air speaking in a nasally robot voice like a protectron. “Make... a hole vault dwellers, I'm on emergency monkey business with the Overseer! Make... a hole!”
“You'll do no such!” she curled a fist and pretended to hit me. “Bring Jangles up discretely the next time you're here you damn dirty wastelander!”
“I prefer what you called me before, a damn dirty 'Swole Survivor'.” I imitated her Captain Cosmos and flexed.
“I swear, I'm going to feed you to the incinerators one of these days Nate.”